Glad to know other people understand this mental image thing is a real issue for some of us!!! For the first time in my life I'm not obese, I'm actually within the healthy range, and I'm suddenly self-conscious about my body. Why now!? I don't get it. I feel fatter than ever because I feel like my imperfections are glaringly obvious now. Honestly, I was always a confident person before. I have self-esteem issues now. I really am unhappier with my body now. Why!? It doesn't even make sense! But it's true.

SIMPLELIFE2
Posts:
707
1/10/13 11:46 A

Think about it this way: You see yourself every day and the change happens slowly over time. You just don't really notice. Think about when you haven't seen someone for a long time. Your image of that person is fixed in your head. Then, you run into them and they have put on 50 pounds. It hits you like BAM!

I had an aha moment last Thanksgiving. I knew I had lapsed a bit but didn't realize how much until I say the pictures. When I looked at them in comparison to other pics, it was undeniable. But there is no sense in dwelling. What's done is done. You can only change what you are doing today.

I will say it takes awhile to adjust to your healthier self as well. I still haven't caught up in my head. I'll put on an older pair of pants that used to fit snuggly and I'm still surprised they are a bit baggy. Or I'll catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and wonder where all this definition came from. I mean I know I've worked my butt off -- literally -- but like I said, you see yourself every day.

When I was overweight, I knew I needed to lose "a few pounds". But, I didn't think I was overweight per se. I thought I was average. Mind you, the fact that I couldn't put on an XL leather jacket didn't seem to concern me either. Well, when I decided I needed to lose and started losing, little did I know that I was really morbidly obese. My BMI was 34-35.

As I lost weight, I did become more aware of my body. I also became more critical. It's taken a long time, but instead of beating myself up because I don't look a certain way, I've learned to appreciate what my body CAN do and not worry about how it looks. I'll never be perfect and I'm okay with that.

There is a misconception that when a person loses weight, they'll be happy. That is a serious misconception. If you're not happy with yourself now, you won't be happy once you've lost the weight. Thin women hate their bodies just as much as overweight women do.

That's why it's important to learn to love your body "warts and all". We're all flawed and that's okay too. That's what makes us human. Most of us don't look like the women in the magazines,but that's what we think we should look like.

I was just thinking the same thing this morning. I've lost 60 pounds so far, but feel bigger now than I did when I started this journey (not because I actually am bigger, of course, but because my body image was so skewed 60 pounds ago). I can't answer as to why this happens, how we can be in such denial about our bodies. But I can tell you that you're not alone.

LOVE4KITTIES
Posts:
2,054
1/10/13 10:03 A

It's easy to compare now vs then when the change is sudden, much more difficult when it happens over time.

I think it's easy to not realize (or maybe easier to accept) because the extra weight comes on gradually. A pound here, a pound or two there...you have a chance to get used to the extra weight/size as it comes on. It sneaks up on you. If someone went to bed at a normal weight and woke up 100 lbs heavier, the sudden change would be extremely shocking.

I think the same is true when you lose weight. A lot of people who have lost a significant amount of weight, will tell you that they have to focus to tell that the weight they lost is gone. But, if you woke up 100 lbs lighter, there would be no question that you'd really notice.

I had a realization like that too. It was in the fall of 2010, and I was about 317 pounds (I had lost weight off and on) and I remember just feeling how large I was. I felt uncomfortable in my own clothes, and I felt awkward sitting in my brother's truck. Sometimes it really takes becoming aware of your body to realize that a change needs to be made. You're absolutely right about the attitude as well. It is going to take time, and you're smart for realizing that now.

The same happened to me as I lost weight as well. I suddenly realized that my legs were thinner as well as my arms, waist and hips. It just kind of 'hits' you.

If we all knew the answer to that, none of us would be overweight. I know I seemed to have size blindness. I didn't think I was really as big as I was. When I had my ah-ha moment, it was a huge smack in the face. I believe it was Homer Simpson who uttered the line, "Stupid Reality!" Boy that's how I felt!

But that smack propelled me to finally do something so it's all good.

And if you had asked me back when, I'd say that yes, a pint of S'mores or Key Lime Pie Ben & Jerry's was just that good. In fact, 2 or even 3 pints was even better! There are still things that DO taste that good. The difference is now I am learning that w/ planning and portioning (forethought - imagine that!), I CAN have anything I want. And be a normal sized, healthy person, too.

Just keep telling yourself: "I'm not where I want to be YET, but I'm getting there." You truly are!!

since restarting this journey it seems I am almost HYPER aware of my body. Showering, going to the bathroom or just sitting in my chair at work. It is like I suddenly feel how big I have gotten and my stomach ALWAYS seems to be in the way! So my question is, how does this happen? Don't get me wrong, before when I would go clothes shopping I would wanna cry but on my day to day basis it was what it was. I know I am moving forward but where did the blinders come from that said this was ok? At what point why doesn't common sense kick in and say whoa?! Does any coke taste so good or Mc Donalds cheeseburger and fries make you feel so good it is worth feeling this bad?! I am still not sure why or how the blinders came off, and part of me isn't happy that they did but now there is only really one way to go, right? So today I look down at my stomach and know it will take time but I will be seeing less and less of it as the days go by...

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